Spathiphyllum plant named ‘SP9028-9’

ABSTRACT

A new  Spathiphyllum  plant particularly distinguished by attractive, very highly branched, leafy growth habit, many relatively small, very dark green, shiny, textured leaves, abundant white ovate spathes with early natural bloom and tolerance of environmental extremes which often cause leaf yellowing in the other  Spathiphyllum  varieties is disclosed.

Genus and species: Spathiphyllum hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘SP9028-9’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Spathiphyllum, botanically known as Spathiphyllum hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SP9028-9’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in June, 2002 in Apopka, Fla. The female parent with Spathiphyllum cv. ‘Valentino’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,670). The male parent was Spathiphyllum cv. ‘Double Take’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,835).

A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation in March, 2004.

The new cultivar was first propagated in March, 2004 in Apopka, Fla. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by tissue culture in Apopka, Fla. over six generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Apopka, Fla.

-   -   1. Attractive, very highly branched, leafy growth habit;     -   2. Many relatively small, very dark green, shiny, textured         leaves;     -   3. Abundant white ovate spathes with early natural bloom; and     -   4. Tolerant of environmental extremes which often cause leaf         yellowing in other Spathiphyllum varieties.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Spathiphyllum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, mature foliage, and plant habit.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a mature inflorescence.

FIG. 3 shows the upper surface of a mature leaf.

FIG. 4 shows the lower surface of a mature leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SP9028-9’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Apopka, Fla. The data were obtained in April 2006 from 7-month-old plants grown in 15-cm pots and started from a 70- to 84-day-old liner initiated from a single tissue culture-derived micro-cutting. The plants were grown in a shade-cloth enclosure with a daily temperature range of 75 to 90° F. and a nightly temperature range of 65 to 72° F. The light level was about 2000 foot candles; there were no photoperiodic treatments or growth retardant treatments, however gibberellic acid was used to induce flowering. Color references are to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Araceae.         -   Botanical name.—Spathiphyllum hybrid.         -   Common name.—Peace lily, white anthurium. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Spathiphyllum cv. ‘Valentino’ (U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 13,670).         -   Male parent.—Spathiphyllum cv. ‘Double Take’ (U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 12,835). -   Growth:     -   -   General.—Tropical flowering potted plant; plant is suitable             for use in shaded tropical landscapes and in indoors.         -   Time to finish.—About 7 to 8 months to finish when starting             from a 70- to 84-day-old liner initiated from a single             tissue culture-derived micro-cutting.         -   Appropriate container.—10 cm to 15 cm pots; suitable for use             in shaded tropical landscapes and indoors. -   Plant description:     -   -   Life cycle.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Habit.—Upright symmetrical shape; leaves upright when             juvenile, arching outward as the plant matures.         -   Height, from soil to top of leaf plane.—22.0 cm to 28.0 cm.         -   Height, from soil to top of inflorescences.—34.0 cm to 38.0             cm.         -   Spread.—43.0 cm to 48.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Good.         -   Roots.—Thick, fleshy, white, freely branching with fine             lateral branches.         -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Better than average             durability when grown indoors; good tolerance to mechanical             damage from shipping and handling.         -   Temperature tolerances.—Tolerates high temperatures to about             104° F. and low temperatures to about 45° F. without             noticeable damage. -   Stems:     -   -   Type.—Basal branching.         -   Number.—16 basal branches originating from a single             micro-cutting.         -   Description.—Ovate to columnar, round in transverse section.         -   Length.—1.5 cm to 2.5 cm depending upon age of shoot.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm to 2.3 cm depending upon age of shoot.         -   Internode length.—0.4 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Strength.—Tough, somewhat flexible.         -   Color.—Immature: Outside: RHS 155C (white). Inside: RHS 155C             (white). Mature: Outside: RHS 155C (white) tinged with RHS             137B to RHS 137C (green) if exposed to light. Inside: RHS             155C (white). -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; leaves arranged on stem in             closely spaced vertical ranks.         -   Number.—6 to 8 leaves per stem; fewer on younger shoots.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire, wavy.         -   Size.—Length: 18.0 cm to 21.0 cm. Width: 6.5 cm to 8.0 cm.         -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: Greener than, but             closest to RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 147B. Mature leaf:             Upper surface: Much darker and greener than, but closest to             RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 137B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate; main veins and mid-rib recessed on             upper surface and protruding from lower leaf surface.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Much darker and greener than, but             closest to RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146B to RHS 147B.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth, shiny; blade convex between             main veins giving the leaf a textured appearance. Lower             surface: Smooth, glossy.         -   Surface pubescence.—Absent. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—15 cm.         -   Diameter, distal.—0.45 cm.         -   Diameter, proximal (flattened for measurement).—4 cm; base             of petiole clasps and encircles the stem.         -   Aspect.—Upright when newly emerged becoming about 45 degrees             from the vertical axis as more leaves emerge above it.         -   Color.—Much darker and greener than, but closest to RHS             147A. -   Geniculum:     -   -   Length.—3.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.45 cm.         -   Aspect.—Curved outward.         -   Color.—Darker and greener than, but closest to RHS 147A.         -   Wing length (petiole sheath).—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.         -   Wing diameter.—0.8 cm at midpoint.         -   Wing color.—Darker and greener than, but closest to RHS             147A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length, as measured from base of peduncle to base of             spathe.—18.0 cm to 25.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Angle.—Straight, upright.         -   Strength.—Touch, flexible.         -   Color.—RHS 137A to RHS 147A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Arrangement.—Cupped, ovate flower spathe surrounding a             columnar spadix borne atop a tall upright peduncle;             monoecious; spadix a central column of densely packed,             sessile, simple flowers.         -   Flowering habit.—Natural bloom starts in the late winter and             repeat flowering occurs for about 3 to 4 months; flowering             can be induced by applying gibberellic acid at any time of             the year.         -   Lastingness of the spathes on the plant.—About 3 to 4 weeks             with good color; spathes become tinged with green as they             age; senescence/browning occurs after about 8 to 10 weeks.         -   Longevity as a cut flower.—About 7 days.         -   Persistent/Self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Flowering season.—Late winter through summer.         -   Time to flower.—Inflorescences initiated about 12 weeks             after induction.         -   Rate of inflorescence opening.—About 2 to 3 new             inflorescences open every 7 to 10 days.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—About 15.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet perfume.         -   Inflorescence height.—34.0 cm to 38.0 cm.         -   Immature inflorescence (“bud”).—Spathe tightly rolled around             spadix. Shape: Spindle-shaped. Length: About 5.5 cm. Width:             1.0 cm. Color: Whiter than, but closest to RHS 155A; mid-rib             RHS 143A; apex tinged with RHS 143A. -   Spathe:     -   -   Arrangement.—Straight, upright.         -   Shape.—Ovate, cupped.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate to obtuse.         -   Length.—10 cm to 12 cm.         -   Diameter.—4.5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Height (depth).—2.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Both sides smooth, slightly glossy.         -   Color, when opening.—Front side: RHS 155D; apex tinged with             RHS 143A. Rear side: Whiter than but closest to RHS 155A;             mid-rib RHS 143A; apex tinged with RHS 143A.         -   Color, when fully opened.—Front side: Paper white; apex             tinged with RHS 143A. Rear side: paper white; mid-rib RHS             143A; apex tinged with RHS 143A.         -   Color, fading to.—After about 3 to 4 weeks, spathes become             progressively more tinged with RHS 143A to RHS 143B (green)             as they age, ultimately becoming RHS N199B with senescence. -   Spadix:     -   -   Arrangement.—Straight, upright.         -   Shape.—Columnar.         -   Margin.—Spadix covered with cone-shaped flower pistils.         -   Apex.—Blunt, rounded.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—4.4 cm to 5.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.         -   Color.—Immature: RHS 150D. Mature: RHS 158D.         -   Flowers.—Type: Simple, individual flowers reduced to the             most basic elements. Shape: Elliptic to ovate, with             protruding cone-shaped pistil surrounded by four tepals.             Flower diameter: 0.3 cm. Flower height (depth): 0.5 cm to             0.6 cm overall from base to tip; cone-shaped pistil extends             about 0.3 cm beyond the male flowers. Number of female             flowers per spadix: 80 to 105. Number of male flowers per             spadix: 8. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 8. Anther length: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm.             Anther color: RHS 158D. Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant.             Pollen color: RHS 155D.         -   Pistils: Quantity: 80 to 105. Length: 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm.             Pistil shape: Cone-shaped. Stigma color: RHS 158D. Ovary             color: RHS 158D. -   Fruit and seed set: Has not been observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: Resistance and susceptibility is     typical of the species.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘SP9028-9’ differs from the female parent Spathiphyllum ‘Valentino’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,670) in that ‘SP9028-9’ has a shorter and narrower plant habit than ‘Valentino’. In addition, ‘SP9028-9’ has a longer and wider spadix and longer pistillate flowers than ‘Valentino’.

‘SP9028-9’ differs from the male parent Spathiphyllum ‘Double Take’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,835) in that ‘SP9028-9’ has a less upright and shorter plant habit than ‘Double Take’. Additionally, ‘SP9028-9’ has shorter narrower leaves and shorter narrower peduncles than ‘Double Take’.

‘SP9028-9’ differs from the commercial Spathiphyllum variety ‘31581’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,893) in that ‘SP9028-9’ has a more branched and denser, leafy habit than ‘31581’. In addition, ‘SP9028-9’ has smaller more textured leaves and an early prolific natural bloom when compared to ‘31581’. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Spathiphyllum plant as shown and described herein. 